Summer Sweat

LATROBE, Pa. – Pittsburgh Steelers’ Howard Jones’ football career is running parallel to that of his position coach’s – former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter.

Both went into college as wide receivers only to be moved to defensive end. While Porter was drafted by the Steelers in 1999, Pittsburgh picked up Jones, a former Shepherd standout, as an unsigned free agent. The Steelers chose to move both of them to outside linebacker.

Though their paths run parallel, their personalities couldn’t be more different on the field. Porter was once an emotional and energetic player on the field; Jones keeps more to himself, preferring to let his playing do the talking.

It’s easy to notice his quiet demeanor – very different than some of his teammates. On the field, there’s no joking around or goofing off. Jones does his job and makes the most of each opportunity.

During the second practice of the day at Thursday’s training camp, Jones sacked the quarterback during 7-on-7 drills, only to get up and reassume his position. No time for celebrations. Jones still has to earn his spot on the team. There’ll be time for celebration after that.

“I don’t really think about it. I put my best out there, and I have a lot of confidence in myself in the different things and the athleticism I show,” Jones said. “I don’t really worry about that every day.”

Pittsburgh picked up Jones as an undrafted free agent so the former Ram continues to wait to see if his spot on the team will still be there come Sept. 7 when the Steelers open the season at home against Cleveland.

Instead of worrying about what will be, Jones tries to prove why the Steelers should keep him as often as he can. He listened intently as his coaches explained each drill and watched his teammates perform, taking in as much as possible.

“Working hard. It feels good to be able to compete with these guys and just be here with some of these guys,” Jones said. “Just to go through the day with these guys, it feels great.”

Though a position change might seem difficult, Jones has a bit of experience on defense as he moved around at Shepherd.

“It’s not too hard, not too bad. (I) went into Shepherd as a wide receiver, then outside backer and then went to D-end,” Jones said. “Since I guess I didn’t play much special teams at Shepherd, I definitely gotta get into that field definitely now and be able to know what I’m doing.”

As Jones is learning his role on special teams, he’s also learning what it takes to be a professional athlete.

“I guess the intensity of your work (is different than at the college level),” Jones said. “How fast you do it and the demeanor and attitude you have doing it.”

For a young player having the chance to not only take the field with big-name players like Troy Polamalu but getting to work under coaches like Porter and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, Jones is taking it all in stride, not allowing himself to get starstruck.

“It’s all football to me,” he said. “A new experience. Pretty tough but that’s all right.”

It’s not an entirely new experience for Jones, though. There’s still a little piece of college to be found on the field along with him. Shepherd assistant coach Ramal Faunteroy is at training camp, too, coaching the defensive line with John Mitchell as the winner of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship.

“I feel like I still got someone yelling at me that’s very close to me, but it’s a great feeling,” Jones said. “I feel definitely comfortable, makes me a little bit more comfortable.”

The pair doesn’t get time to interact much except in passing at Faunteroy encourages him with a “Let’s go!” But both are proud of each other’s accomplishments and happy to see each other on the field.

Jones got a chance to hit the field with the Steelers against the New York Giants in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener Saturday.

Faunteroy’s been spending the his time with the Steelers at training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship. It’s an honor Tomlin once received, giving him an in to becoming an NFL coach.

Faunteroy was one of thousands of applicants who applied for the fellowship. He said he prayed and took the time to fill out the application, which included a resume and essay.

“Let me do my part,” he thought.

The wait to hear whether or not he got the spot was worth it as he now takes the field as an active coach with the Steelers for the time being.

While the defense took practice Thursday afternoon, Faunteroy watched players run drills, correcting them when needed. He took the time to show his fellow Shepherd coaches how things are ran as they had a chance to join Faunteroy on the field during the second practice of the day.

Faunteroy is looking at this honor as an insight to what it’s like being a coach at the highest level – an aspiration for the Shepherd coach.

“It’s a great experience. It’s a first-class organization, just to kinda learn from the entire coaching staff, starting with coach Tomlin. He’s a great motivator, a great leader,” Fautneroy said.

He said one of the main difference between coaching at this level and coaching at a college level is how the players approach the game.

“There are grown men,” he explained.

Unlike some students fresh out of high school, professional players are self-motivated. He doesn’t need to be on them constantly to work hard, eat right and take care of their bodies because the players approach football with a business mindset. While both college and professional players love the game, the professionals have jobs on the line.

Faunteroy’s spends his time during camp learning the insides of the Steelers’ defense under an impressive coaching staff.

“I have primarily been working on the defensive side of the ball, so working with a hall-of-fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau down to specifically working with John Mitchell,” Faunteroy said.

LeBeau has 41 years of experience and knowledge as an NFL coach to share with Faunteroy, while Mitchell is in his 21st year with the Steelers as a defensive line coach, making him the longest tenured coach on the Steelers staff.

Faunteroy said one of the important thing’s his picked up on from Mitchell is having the details right.

The Shepherd coach sees how he should prepare for games and practice as well as how he should be inspiring his players to work. He said he knows he needs to make sure his student-athletes are participating and taking notes in both the classroom as well as football meetings, knowing they are studying for classes and reading their playbooks.

While Faunteroy’s time with the Steelers is a new experience, not everyone around his is an unfamiliar face.

Shepherd defensive end Howard Jones was picked up by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent and is taking the same side of the field as Faunteroy. However, things have changed for the duo has Faunteroy no longer interacts with Jones as much as he used to on the field.

Jones moved to outside linebacker, while Faunteroy is working mainly on the defensive line. The relationship is now more of Faunteroy encouraging him in passing.

“It’s a blessing for him and his family,” Faunteroy said.

The coach will rejoin Shepherd when he leaves training camp Thursday. He had the chance to coach in the Steelers’ opener Saturday against the New York Giants.